Signing soon, ch-ch-ch-ch-changes soon and Petrov out of hospital

It does seem like football is a long way off, but in these moments of football reflection a lot can happen and it appears a lot might be happening.

First up; pre-season starts next week and that means the manager is going to get over a month to work with them and if that means a little extra for the first month, great, because you can not think for a minute this is going to be easy.

There might also be a few new faces. I've got a feeling that when this manager makes his first signing, he might make two or three very quickly. Preparation is important and while he might not be able to get everyone in he wants, I suspect he will be hoping to get them in all as early as possible.

A signing this week?

But there is talk from a player that he wants to join us and we have to be blind to what that actually means and hope he is coming. His name is and I know you all know this, Karim El Ahmadi and he currently plays for Feyenoord. He is a midfielder and while I've got to hold my hands up and admit to knowing very little, my hope is with the manager actually getting his man because he has said he wants to and the player has too.

Villa is a top club. I will miss Feyenoord, but nobody will blame me I want to take this step. I am looking forward to playing against clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Petrov leaves hospital

In more positive news, Stan Petrov has left hospital. I hope it is positive anyway - we don't know and this is just from the Sofia News Agency carrying a quote from his father, so you have to hope it means something positive. I'm sure we will learn soon.

Changes to the scouting network

And lastly today, I read something this morning that Glenn Roeder and Artur Numan are leaving the club. I know, years of service and this is what they get. Actually it isn't years of service and they were just scouts. I could scout players. Maybe I couldn't, but I'd love to be able to get paid to watch football matches.

Talk is that Lambert wants to bring in his own men and that shouldn't be a surprise. Old boy network and all that. So on that, I'm off, but next week there is a competition to win the new home shirt, so see you then.